Gin

Although this is a British book, it is an excellent history of gin. It mentions many popular and artisan brands, has lovely pictures, and some cocktail recipes.

Very impressive. I expected from the book's description to be treated to historical details, and am delighted that the book delivered such a depth of fascination. The gin equivalent of foodie readers will glean a nice variety of FYIs to pair with their bartending expertise and cocktail party conversation. I enjoyed the recipes that we tried, and recommend this book specially to my wedding couple audience who are building their home bar accessories gift lists and eager to learn as much as possible about liquors and wines. This is definitely a book for their libraries. Great photos add to the immersion here. Very nicely done.

This is a great reference book as far as history and recipes go for Gin. The photos are great as well! To me, this would be a coffee table book or an addition to my cocktail library.

Gin: A Short History by Moses Jenkins examines the fascinating narrative of one of the world's most beloved spirits. Gin, at its most rudimentary description is a base spirit that's been fused with "botanicals" during its production. With so many subtle differences between the countless gin formulas across the centuries, there's probably a flavor of gin out there for everyone. The book starts with a clear and detailed description of the gin production process, going into some history of how today's gins are cleaner and produced for a more discerning palate than they have in the past. Very few pleasures in the history of human existence have ridden on the roller coaster of popularity over the course of history as gin has. From its ancient use for medicinal purposes, to the supposed ruination of society of the 18th century, and finally to the high brow craft spirit it is today, gin has been used to explain away every ill as well as the fountain of strength to the people who enjoy it. It's pretty funny how the spirit went from the cure to the cause of many diseases over the course of a few decades. Mind you, for a long time, like...a stupidly long amount of time, gin was regarded to the general public as the only "bad booze."

"Phew, thank god I stopped drinking gin. Switching to Brandy ought to cure this jaundice right up.

The author takes great pride in describing each of the different "eras" of gin consumption, providing illustrative and anecdotal examples of how society was molding itself around our love of the hard stuff.

I hate to use the term "coffee table" book as that usually sounds pejorative, but the attractive presentation and illustrations of Gin can't be overlooked. While the content is of course more detailed and thorough than your big standard coffee table book, you get the best of both worlds with Gin by also having an eye pleasing title in your living room for guests. The progression of advertisements, political cartoons and bar culture are all curated by era along with its written history, and add a lot of value to what's being discussed. The home bartender in the family will appreciate Gin as well, as the book provides numerous recipes and pictures of famous (and also fairly obscure) gin based cocktails. Eyeballing a few of these cocktails during my read-through made me want to break out my Hendrick's and my shaker ...and get busy.

Verdict: Gin A Short History by Moses Jenkins is a detailed catalog of gin history from its most elementary beginnings to its status today as a symbol of a refined strong drink for the upwardly mobile. Gin is a must have for anyone fascinated by the strange history of an intoxicating drink that needs a respectable new conversation piece. Get out the shaker, scare up some bitters, and enjoy a nice refreshing glass of world history.

An advanced copy of Gin was graciously provided by Osprey Publishing. All remarks and opinions in the review are my own.

Review to be posted on tehben.com on Wednesday 2/20/2019.

Moses Jenkins' Gin is the quintessential coffee table book: beautifully illustrated, accessible to pick up, and it covers an interesting subject.

Jenkins details the beginnings of gin as a medicinal drink, through its rise as a favorite of the working poor, proliferation in the market, decline after WWII, and eventual rise again through the craft industry. Jenkins peppers the history lesson with vintage pictures of ads, drawings, and cocktails from throughout the drink's history. I was thrilled to learn the origins of familiar names such as Tanqueray and Gordon's as much as looking into the botanicals that make the drink what it is.

What really makes this book thrive are the anecdotes that Jenkins throws in to the narrative. (Who can forget the detail of plague doctors putting juniper into their masks to ward off disease?) It is clear that Jenkins is interested in gin both as a historian and fan, and his zeal for the topic shines through in the book.

***I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Osprey Publishing.***

This is a beautifully presented and fascinating book about Gin – tracing its history from its beginnings as a medicinal tonic, to its ubiquity among all classes of urban British society leading to it being “blamed for all of society’s ill”, through its era as a common cocktail base, the slump in the mid to late 20th century, to finally its renaissance as the spirit of choice with an explosion of new craft Gin distilleries in the 21st century.
There are three main parts to this book – each of which would make a good book by itself. Firstly, the prose is well-written and full of really interesting information. For instance, ‘Navy Strength’ as a standard for the alcohol content of gin could be tested for by mixing the gin with gunpowder, and seeing if the gunpowder could still be lit (so that gin spillages during battle would not cause problems). I was surprised to find that the only thing that all gins have in common (apart from having an alcoholic spirit base), is that they must contain juniper. As for the other ‘botanicals’, it seems that almost anything goes.
Secondly, the illustrations in the book are wonderful – photos of modern distilleries, adverts for gin and similar products, old engravings and early books, cartoons and drawings, gin bottles and cocktails. It is almost worth buying this book for the illustrations alone.
And thirdly, throughout the book are the recipes for a goodly number of gin-based cocktails (in case you get thirsty while reading the book).
Over the past three centuries, gin has slid into and out of fashion, but the British taste for the spirit has never disappeared. All its high and low points are recorded in this book. Today, any trip to a large supermarket in the UK will provide you with a bewildering array of gins – from small boutique craft distilleries to the gin giants such as Gordan’s and Tanqueray. This book will help you get a handle on the myriad varieties. And if you are already a gin fan, then this book will remind you once again, why you love gin so much.
I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – but I will be buying a personal hard-copy.

It isn't often that I partake in consuming alcoholic beverages, but I am a social drinker when with my friends or husband for a rare night out. In recent years, I have found myself reaching for gin based drinks more often than not. There is something so classic and sophisticated about having a French 75 or a Gimlet. I enjoyed reading about the history of gin in this book. To be honest, I didn't even know what gin was made of, only that I like the way it tastes! It was interesting to learn that it has a botanical base. The book also explores the distilling process, as well as the controversy gin has caused in the past. The book mentions brands, and sprinkles gin recipes throughout. Next up on my gin repertoire- Aviation- a beautifully lavender colored drink that utilizes creme de violette. I recommend this book to all gin lovers, or anyone looking for new drink recipes to impress their friends and company.

A really enjoyable read. Lots of interesting information about gin and its history. Many new facts learned as I read. Liked the inclusion of the cocktail recipes. A concise and informative book.

A quick overview on the history of gin, different varieties and variations, and a few basic recipes.

I received a digital ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was a fascinating expose on the origin and history of a much misaligned drink. It takes the reader on a journey behind the scenes, and explains how this spirit came to represent all of the ills of St. Giles and the slums of London. It highlights the evolution of gin as it became an iconic associate of glamorous Hollywood. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with social history, generate a cocktail conversation or showcase your coffee table sophistication. This was a 4 star read for me.